Fluid-operated valve.



E. P. NOYES.

FLUID OPERATED VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED my a, 1908.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911 java 732 M QN N\ N 11/ nN .1 1 M N 1? Ad Rx 1 1 wn mh R 1 N R; \m w W AN w N In 35 tend the range of, automatic stable equilib- UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE- EDWARD P. NOYES, or WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENrrs, TO 0. P. POWER COMPANY, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OE NEW JERSEY.

lo'all whom it may concern: 'Be' it known that I, EDWARD P. NoYEs, a

.citizen'" of the United States, residing at Winchester, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented cerin'new and useful Improvements in F luid- ."Qpei'ated Valves, of which the following is specification.

.\This invention relates to branches of the valve casing, and it relates .es peci'allyflhough not exclusively, to single seating valves of this type, which are more easily kept fluid-tight when closed than is a double-disk or ordinary balanced valve.

While attempts have been made to balance single-seating valves and operate them by control of a fluid-pressure derived from. the

'main line, it has always been more or less .difiicult to reconcile the balancing and opvalves are unbalanced, which makes them deerating functions without introducing undue complication or other faults. Usually the I ficient in delicacyof control, especiallv in the larger sizes, the tendency of the valve-.

- and-piston member being'to move all the I "fllSO'ZL tendency to chatter.

way when once started. There. is commonly My general object is to overcome or mitigate'these faults, and my special objects are,

principally, to secure greater delicacy and jreliability of' control; to provide for, or exrium of the main valve in its intermediate openings; to control the leakage past slid- 1njg surfaces; to providekimproved means for mechanical control of the main valve;

to segregate the valve-balancing and valvea. convertible valve-structure crating functions and improve the means fr performing each of them; and to furnish adapted for different modes of operation.

1 Qf the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents avertical transverse section of a valve'apparatus constructed according to fmy invention. Fig.2 represents a vertical i 1Q is the valve-casing formed with antelongitudinal section thereof.

I riot-and posterior chambers 11, 12 separated by-apantition13 which contains a" central 'portsurrounded by a valve-seat 14.

15 is the moving valve-and-piston mem- Specifica tion of Letters Patent. Application filed May 8, 1908. Serial NO. 431,723.

FLUID-OPERATED VALVE.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

ber carrying the main valve 16 at its lower end and also formed with a motor piston 17 whose lower side is exposed to the anterior pressure in chamber 11 tending to raise the main valve. I

I have segregated the balancing and valve- Operating functions (in this instance sub stantially completely) by providing the guide 18 formed on the casing cover 19 and I telescoping with the moving piece 15, thus making an annular chamber 20 which surrounds the telescopic connection, and a middle chamber 27 within the projected cyl; inder of said connection. In one of these chambers I establish the controllingpressure and in the other the balancing or posterior pressure, there being for the chamber 20 an inlet duct 21 leading from the anterior chamber 11 and controlled by pilot valves 22,

23 and an outlet duct 25 leading to the posterior chamber 12 and controlled by pilot valves 24 and 26. (It is permissible to employ, in place of either of the pilot-controlled ducts for the controlling chamber, and especially for the inlet-duct, a fixed leakage such as might be provided by making the piston 17 a loose fit in its cylinder, as will be evident to thoseskilled in the art.)

For the balancing chamber 27 there is I an extension of outlet duct 25 controlled by as pilot. valve 28, on opening which the pressure. posterior to the main valve WillbG established in chamber 27, and since in this illustration the diameter of said chamber is approximately the same as that of the main valve 16, the latter will have a substantially complete or exact balance as to posterior pressure. There is also shown an extension of the inlet duct 21 leading to chamber 27 and controlled by pilot-valve 29, the function of which will be hereinafter explained.

30 is'a central outlet duct formed in the moving member 15, with entrances31 from the controlling chamber 20 and exits 32- to the posterior chamber 12, this outlet'from chamber 20 being usable either in conjunction with or in. place of the'outlet through duct 25, and'controlled by a ta ered valve 33 on a stem 34 having a threa ed-connection at 35 with the casing cover. Above the tapered valve 33, the stem has a cylindric 'l or piston portion 36 ada ted to snugly t the bore '37 so as to shut o the exits 32 whilestill permitting; movement of the member 15; and stem M istfurther capable Of -IDO ,chanically controlling said. member 15 by reason of a shoulder 39 formed on the stem and adapted to seat'against a shoulder 38 above the exits 32, whereby also the outlet duct may be sealed when the main valve is closed, and any leakage from the sliding surfaces of the member 15 to the posterior side of the main valve shut off.

is a small piston affixed to the member 15 and havinga snug sliding fit on stem 3 1- and in a fixed cylin ler a). which projects from the casing cover 19, this piston being opposed by a piston area working in a cylinder 1 i which projects from the floor'of chamber 12, the cylinder space below piston 44: being adapted to contain atmospheric or other pressure, preferably a fixed'pressure. From the cylinder space 13 above piston 10 the duct 46 leads to the anterior chamber 11 and is controlled by a pilot valve 47.

y 48 represents an" annular lip surrounding the seat for the main valve and forming with the body of the main valve 163m annular cleft 4E9 anterior tothe seating face i of the main valve, whereby as the main valve nears its seatthe throttling function is performed by the sides of this cleft, which tends faces of the valve and its seat of any cutting'action and also to blow v out from between the valveand its seat any -ensuesjust prior to actual closure.

her 11 as comparedwith particles which might pre'vent a tight closure.- This lip slightly overbalances the main valve and tends 'to produce a. sharp closing action as the latter approaches its seat, owing to the smaller area of piece 15 subjectedto the upward pressure in chamthe area of piston 17 subjected to the downward pressure in chamber 20, but as the valve approaches closer to its seat, the throttling action becomes transferred to the cleft between the valve and its seat and a cushioning effect this construction is preferred, it may be modified or omitted without departing from.

the present invention.

The simplest mode of operation of my improved valve apparatus is that wherein posterior pressure is established in the chamber 27 and the position of the mainvalve is regulated by adjusting the relation between the inflow to and the outflow from the controlling chamber 20. Thus, assuming that stem 34 is retracted, but not enough to open the ports 32, valves 23, 26 and 28 being wide open, valve 22 slightly open, and valves 29 and 7 closed, the anterior pressure which has accumulated in chamber 20 above the piston 17 may then be drawn down by slightly opening the valve 2a. As soon as the pressure in 20 has been reduced far enough to enable the pressure in chamber 11 to overcome the friction and weight of the member 15, the main valve will rise from 41 of substantially equal the weight of the moving piece 15,

While I pressure may be its seat, and when posterior pressure has risen sutliciently in chamber 12, said pressure will tend to react upon and check the.

outflow from chamber 20. In the case o'f a liquid this reacting tendency of the postej rior pressure is effective throughout the range of the main valve, but in the case of an elastic fluid, owing to a known law of the flow of such fluids, the reaction does not begin until the posterior pressure has risen to about 58% of the pressure in chamber 20.

In the higher regions of throttling however, namely from full opening to about 40% throttle (or in some cases more, as herein after noted), I am enabled to automatically maintain the main valve in stable equilibrium by merely adjusting a pilot valve such as valve 24, to regulate the relation between the inflow to and the outflow from a controlling chamber such as 20. With a liquid, as already indicated, the range of automatic stable equilibrium substantially coincides with the range of the mainalve. Thus great delicacy of' control is attained by substantially balancing the main valveas to posterior pressure, but the degree of exactness of this balancing is of course subject to some variation without departing from my invention. In order to lower the limit of stable,- equilibrium control, various expedients may be employed. For example, an increase in by lowering that pressure in chamber 20 which will hold member 15in equilibrium, will consequently lower the point at which the pos terior pressure begins to react on the outflow from 20. Any other constant or substanti.allyconstant valve-closing force may be substituted for an increase in weight. Thus in many situations the anterior pres sure will be substantially constant, and this may be admitted to the space above piston 40 by opening valve 17. Then piston 11, whose lower side may be subject to a constant upwardly-acting force as stated, removes from the main piece the counter influence of the varying posterior'pressure in chamber 12. It will be understood that these auxiliary pistons 40 and ll, while giving useful efi'ects, are not essential to my invention in a broad sense. When pre ent however they may capacities. Chamber 4. 5 for example may contain any suitable operating or controlling Chamber 4:3 with valved-'7 closed, acts as a dash-pot; or when valve 47 is open for an. indeakage less than the out-leal age past the sliding surfaces of piston 40, a

intermediate between the anterior and posterior pressures.

With the valve 33 in use, and adjusted approximately as shown in the drawings, the orifice for outflow from chamber 2 0 is varied established in chamber 413 be used in different by the movement of the member 15, being in this instance increased as the main valve descends toward closure and vice versa, the

and posterior may be established in chamber 'tive adjustment of valves 29 and 28.

27, as for example a pressure intermediate between the two, attainedby a proper relay opening wide the valves 22, 24, 29', 28, the

chambers 20 and 27 'may be placed in free communication and the pressure in both controlled by using the valves 23, 26. Or again,

' placed in series so as to contain sta .termediate pressures, by opening 22's ightly the posterior pressure ma be established in both chambers 20 and 27 by openin 24, 26, and 28 and closing 22, 23, and 29, w ereupon the valve will automatically maintain a substantially constant. difference between the anterior and posterior pressures. Or still again the chambers 20 and 27 Ina be (23 being open). closing 24 and 29 (26 being open) and controllihg the outflow from I taking place. from chamber 20 past the tele-.

chamber 27 by means of valve 28, its inflow scopic oint 15, 18 All of these last-described modes of operation assume that the ports 32 are closed by' piston 36.

"It. will be evident that various other modes of operation may be attained by reason of" the convertible characterfof the valve as shown, but it isto be understood that I do not limit myself to a valve. having the means for attaining all these modes of operation, as my invention may be more simply embodied and it .is also subject to'considerable variation in mode of embodiment without departing from the principles herein set forth.

I claim, 1

1. In valve apparatus, the combination of a casing having anterior and posterior chambersconnected by a port, a moving member having a main valve controlling said port and opening counter to the direction of flow and a motor piston exposed on one side to the anterior pressure acting to open the valve, said member forming with the casing two chambers in shunt-between the anterior and posterior chambers and adapted to contain pressures tending to close the valve, a

pilot valve controlling the connection between one of said two chambers and the posterior chamber. and a second pilot valvecontrolling the relation betweenlthe inflow to and the outflow from the other of said two chambers.

2. In valve apparatus, the combination of I a casing having anterior and posterior chambers, a movable member having a single valve controlling communication between said chambers and openingcounter to the j direction of flow and a motor piston sub jcct on one side to the anterior pressure, a telescopic connection between the casing and said member, an intermediate-pressure chainher surrounding said connection and in shunt between the anterior, and posterior chambers, and means for controlling the relation between the inflow-to and the outflow from said intermediate-pressure chamber.

3. Fl'uidpressure operated valve apparatus comprising a valve-casing having anterior and posterior chambers, a single-seating valve controlling. the passage between said chambers and having a piston subject onone side to the anterior pressure, means for establishing a varying derivative of said pres sure on the op osite side of the piston, a chamber for ba ancing the posterior area of the'valve, and means for establishinmposte rior pressure in said balancing cham er.

4. In valve apparatus, the combination of anterior and posterior chambers connected by a port, a movable member having a singleseating valve controlling said port and opening counter to the direction of flow, a piston v on said member having a valve-opening area exposed to the anterior pressure, a telescopic connection betweenisaid member and the casing, an intermediate chamber surrounding, and a balancin chamber within, said 'connection and bot in shunt between the anterior and posterior chambers, and pilot valves for openln and closing the. communications of sad ba ancing chamber and for controlling the pressure 1n the intermediate chamber. 5. A convertible fluid-pressure-operated valve apparatus comprising. a valve in a fluid pressure line, a piston attached to said valve and subject on one side to the pressure anterior to the valve, an intermediate chamber on the opposite side of said piston, means to establish in said intermediate chamber a mean between the pressures anterior and posterior to the valve, a second chamber'for balancing the posterior area of the valve, and means to establish in said balancing.

chamber either the said mean pressure or the pressure posterior to'the valve.

6. A convertible fluid-pressure-operated valve apparatus comprising a valve casing havin anterior and posterior chambers convnectec by a port, amain valve controlling said port and having a piston subject on;one

side to the. anterior pressureyan intermediate chamber thelop' osite side of said piston having throttlingpassages connecting it with the anterior and posterior chambers, a

' passages connecting it with valve controlling the posterior connecting passage, a chamber for balancing the posterior area of the main valve and having the anterior and posterior chambers, and separately adjustable valves controlling the respective lastsaidjpassages. 1

7 A convertible fiuid-pressure-operated valve apparatus comprising a valve casing having anterior and posterior'chambers connected by a port, a mam valve controlling area 9f the main valve, the anterior chamber to said, port and having a piston subject on one side to the anterior pressure, an intermediate chamber on the op-pos'te side of said piston, a chamber for balancing the posterior a duct leading from the intermediate and balancing chambers and having three valves controlling respectively its inlet from the anterior chamber and its outlet to the intermediate and balancing chambers, and asecmember for varying the l intermediate-pressure .ond duct leading from the intermediate and balancing chambers and posterior chambers and adapted to be substantially balanced as to the posterior pressure, said member having opposed areas subject respectively to the anterior and in-v and pilot-valve mechathe movement of said intermediate prestermediate pressures, nism controlled by sure. 1 v

9. Fluid pressure operated valve apparatus comprising a valve adapted to open an close a fluid-pressure line and having an at tached piston subject on one side to the anterior pressure tending to open the valve, an

chamber on the opposite side of said piston having throttling passages which connect with the anterior and posterior sidesoi the valve respectively, the

pressure to the outlet side of the valve ling the passage sure and posterior-pressure chambers and o posed valve-operating areas being such that the valve automatically assumes equilibrium at intermediate openings without 'changingthe size of said passages, and ad justable means for causing the movement of the valve to vary the escape of intermediate versely to the opening of said valve to maintain such equilibr um in the regions aproachin'g minimum posterior pressure. I

I 10. Fluid pressure operated valve apparatus comprising a caslng having anterior pressure, posterior-pressure and intermediate-pressure chambers, a'main valve controlbetween the anterior-preshaving an attached piston with substantially equal opposite areas presented respectively to the anterioiapressure and intermediate= pressure chambers, and an adjustable valve controlling a passage between the intermedi ate-pressure and posterior-pressure chambers and adapted to automatically open sai passage wider as the main valve closes and vice versa. I

11. Fluid-pressure-operated valve apparatus comprising a mam valve controlling the fluid flow and having a piston subject on one side to the pressure anterior to the valve, an intermediate-pressure chamber. on the opposite side of said piston having an inlet from the anteriorside and an outlet duct leading to the posterior side of the main valve, and an adjustable valve. stem valve portion and a plunger portion for closing said outlet duct while permitting movement of the main valve.-

' 12. In valve apparatus, the combinatinn of anterior and posterior chambers con nected by a port, an, intermediate chamber in shuntbetween thetwo, a movable member controlling said duct and having a taper Y having a valve controlling said port and opposed motor areas subject respectively to the anterior and intermediate pressures, and a pilot member having two serially-acting valves, one controlling the fluid fi ow from the intermediate to the posterior chamber, and the other being a sealing valve seating on said movable member.

13. In valve apparatus, the combination of anterior and posterior chambers connected by a port, an intermediate chamber in shunt between the two,

a movable member having a valve controlling said port and opposed motor areas subject respectively to the anterior and intermediate pressures, and a I member having a pilot valve controlling the flow out of said intermediate chamber, a sealing valve adapted to seat on the movable member, and a plunger portion permitting the pilot valve to close beforethe sealing valve closes. I j

14. In valve apparatus, the combination of anterior and posterior chambers connected by a port, an intermediate chamber communicating with the two,

means for controlling thepressure in said intermediate chamber, a chamber for terior area of the valve, a movable member formed with an outlet from the intermediate chamber to the posterior chamber and having a main valve controlling said port and opposed motor areas subject respectively to the anterior and intermediate pressures, and

a pilot valve controlling said outlet and closing in the same direction as the main valve.

15. Fluid pressure operated valve appa-' ratus comprising a valve casing, a main valve controlling the fluid flow and having a pis- -ton subject on one side to the pressure anbalancing the pos- .terior-to the valve, an intermediate chamber 4 on the opposite side of said valve having an 4 inlet from the anterior side of the valve and an ,outlet duct leading through the mainvalve piece to the posterior side of said valve, and a locking valve stem having a an intermediate chamber side of the piston having throttling screw-threaded adjusting connection with the casing and formed with a tapered valve controlling said duct, a duct-closii-ig plunger portion back of said tapered valve, and a duct-sealing and main-valve-locking shoulder back 0? said plunger portion.

16. F luid-pressure operated valve apparatus comprising a main valve controlllng the fluid flow and having a piston subject on one side to the pressure anterior to the valve, on the opposite passages connecting it withthe anterior and posterior a second pisa cylinder cont-ainmeans to establish the anterior pressure in said cylinder, a bal- "ancing piston and cylinder opposed to said 2? passages eonnectin '35 second piston and its cylinder, and means to establish an interior balancing pressure in said balancing cylinder.

17. Fluid-pressure-operated valve apparatus com rising a main valve controlling the, fluid o-w and having a piston subject on one side to the pressure anterior to the valve, an intermediate chamber on the opposite side of the piston having throttling .it' with the anterior and posterior sides 0 the valve respectively, pilot valves controlling said passages, a chamber'for balancing the posterior area of the main valve and having passages connecting with the anterior and posterior sides of the main valve respectively and provided with pilot valves, a. cylinder having a passage connecting it with the anterior sides of the main valve and provided with a pilot valve, a second piston in said cylinder attachedto the main valve, a third piston opposed to the last-said piston and attached to the main valve, and a cylinder for said third piston.

18. A convertible fluid-prcssure-operated valve apparatus comprising a casing having anterior-pressure and posterior-pressure chambers, a valve controlling the passage be tween said chambers,a third chamber, means for establishing in said third chamber either the posterior pressure or a mean between anterior and posterior pressures, and a piston at tached to the valve and having substantially equal areas presented respectively to the anterior pressure chamber and the third chamber. 7

19. A convertible fluid-pressure-operated valve apparatus comprising a valve casing having anterior and posterior chambers connected by a port, a main valve controlling said port and having a piston subject on one side to the anterior pressure, and separate chambers adapted to contain pressures intermediate between the anterior and posterior pressures tending to close the valve. and provided with means for varying said intermediate pressures.

20. A convertible fluid-pressure-operated valve apparatus comprising a valve casing having anterior and posterior chambers connected by a port, a main valve controlling said portand having a piston subject on one side to the anterior pressure, separate chambers adapted to contain ressures intermediate between anterior'anc posterior pres sures tending to close the valve, and provided with means for varying said inter mediate pressures, and means for substantially freeing the pressure in oneof said separate chambers from the direct opposition of the posterior pressure.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 6th day of May 1908.

- EDW'ARD P. NOYES.

Witnesses:

E. BATOHELDER, P. V. Pnzznrr. 

